Sheriff wants 2 officers dismissed

Claims they failed to cooperate with an internal investigation.

Claims they failed to cooperate with an internal investigation.

June 07, 2006|ALICIA GALLEGOS Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Sheriff Frank Canarecci is asking for the dismissal of two county officers after he says they failed to cooperate with an internal investigation. Formal charges were filed Tuesday against officers Ryan Huston and Andrew Taghon at a St. Joseph County Police Merit Board meeting. The officers are accused of violating merit rules dealing with obeying orders, internal investigations, truthfulness and conduct unbecoming an officer. "Theses are four serious charges," Canarecci said. The sheriff stressed that the recommended dismissal for Taghon and Huston comes from the officers' lack of cooperation with the internal investigation and not the initial reasons triggering the investigation. He would not comment on the reasons behind the investigation, whether any other investigation is ongoing or any possible criminal charges being filed against the two officers. Separate internal investigations were reportedly launched for each officer last month, during which both officers "refused to obey a direct order to answer questions narrowly related to the scope of his employment" and "refused to respond or cooperate as ordered," according to the charges Canarecci filed Tuesday Based on this insubordination, Canarecci said he had no choice but to take a strict action. During the sheriff's term in office, now in its fourth year, he has conducted about 10 internal investigations, he said, and this is the first with zero cooperation from the officers involved. Taghon and Huston, who were not at the merit board meeting, have 14 days to respond to the internal charges. A disciplinary hearing on the dismissal will be at 1:30 p.m. July 5. Last month, Canarecci had confirmed that Huston and Taghon were placed on administration leave with pay, pending an investigation. South Bend police have also confirmed that officer Jamie Buford was placed on administration leave with pay, pending an investigation. No more information has been released by either department about what spurred the investigation. Staff writer Alicia Gallegos: agallegos@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6368